Career and Education Opportunities for Dancers in Amarillo, Texas

For those living in the Amarillo, Texas area, there are many career and education opportunities for dancers. The national trend for dancers sees this job pool growing by about 6.8% over the next eight years. Dancers generally perform dances.

The average wage in the general category of Musical Entertainment jobs is $17 per hour or $43,306 per year in Texas, and an average of $19 per hour or $40,353 per year nationwide. Earnings for dancers are not quite as good as earnings in the general category of Musical Entertainment in Texas and not quite as good as general Musical Entertainment category earnings nationally. Dancers work in a variety of jobs, including: exotic dancer, ballet teacher, and hip hop artist.

The Amarillo area is home to six schools of higher education, including one within twenty-five miles of Amarillo where you can get a degree as a dancer. Dancers usually hold less than a high school diploma, so you can expect to spend only a short time training to become a dancer if you already have a high school diploma.

CAREER DESCRIPTION: Dancer

In general, dancers perform dances. They also may also sing or act.

Dancers train and attend dance classes to maintain high levels of technical proficiency and physical fitness. They also harmonize body movements to rhythm of musical accompaniment. Equally important, dancers have to direct dancing with that of partners or dance ensembles. They are often called upon to collaborate with choreographers so as to refine or modify dance steps. Finally, dancers monitor the field of dance to remain aware of current trends and innovations.

Every day, dancers are expected to be able to keep focus on activity when in motion . They need to twist and stretch their arms and legs to get work done.

It is important for dancers to perform classical or acrobatic dances in productions and sound with their bodies. They are often called upon to devise and choreograph dance for self or others. They also design self-understanding of physical capabilities and limitations, and choose dance styles accordingly. They are sometimes expected to teach dance students. Somewhat less frequently, dancers are also expected to attend costume fittings and makeup calls associated with dance performances.

They also have to be able to study and practice dance moves required in roles and monitor the field of dance to remain aware of current trends and innovations. And finally, they sometimes have to audition for dance roles or for membership in dance companies.

Like many other jobs, dancers must be able to deal with stress and deal with situations calmly and be thorough and dependable.

Similar jobs with educational opportunities in Amarillo include:

Actor. Play parts in stage, television, or motion picture productions for entertainment, information, or instruction. Interpret serious or comic role by speech, gesture, and body movement to entertain or inform audience. May dance and sing.

Choreographer. Create and teach dance. May direct and stage presentations.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: Dancer Training

West Texas A & M University - Canyon, TX

West Texas A & M University, 2501 4th Ave, Canyon, TX 79016-0001. West Texas A & M University is a medium sized university located in Canyon, Texas. It is a public school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 7,552 students and an admission rate of 66%. West Texas A & M University has a bachelor's degree program in Dance which graduated two students in 2008.

LOCATION INFORMATION: Amarillo, Texas

Amarillo, Texas photo by Anonymous Cow

Amarillo is situated in Potter County, Texas. It has a population of over 187,236, which has grown by 7.8% in the past ten years. The cost of living index in Amarillo, 79, is well below the national average. New single-family homes in Amarillo are priced at $245,400 on average, which is far greater than the state average. In 2008, four hundred seventy-one new homes were constructed in Amarillo, down from six hundred forty-eight the previous year.

The three most popular industries for women in Amarillo are health care, educational services, and accommodation and food services. For men, it is construction, accommodation and food services, and food. The average commute to work is about 17 minutes. More than 20.5% of Amarillo residents have a bachelor's degree, which is lower than the state average. The percentage of residents with a graduate degree, 6.8%, is lower than the state average.

The unemployment rate in Amarillo is 5.4%, which is less than Texas's average of 8.1%.

The percentage of Amarillo residents that are affiliated with a religious congregation, 86.4%, is more than both the national and state average. Pentecostal Church of God, Pentecostal Church of God in Christ and Pentecostal Holiness Church are among the churches located in Amarillo. The largest religious groups are the Southern Baptist Convention, the Catholic Church and the United Methodist Church.

Amarillo is home to the Amarillo Globe Dream House and the Wolflin Historic District as well as Martin Road Park and Will Rogers Park. Shopping malls in the area include Western Plaza Shopping Center and Westgate Shopping Center. Visitors to Amarillo can choose from 3B Machine & Custom Fabrication, Bailey's Lounge and Comfort Inn Airport for temporary stays in the area.